Diving duck decoys



Dec. 3, 1957 J. M. FLUKE ET AL DIVING DUCK DECOYS Filed May 20, 19542,814,898 Patented Dec; 3, 1957 Fice United States PatentfOfi DIVINGDUCK DECOYS flelfersnnzMgiFluke,Seattle, Wash, and EdwardAlbertson,iflswegonand Duane gPeabody, Portland, reg., assignors to,Duc-kingaDucks Incorporated, Portland, Oreg.

Application May 20, "I954, Serial-Nm 431,128

14 Claims. (CL \43--3) "This invention relates to duck decoys.j'More'particularly, this invention'relates to artificial duck decoyshaving-relative motion-so as -to partially simulate the normal motionsof aj-live duck upon water;

It has been found *t-hatthe most cfieetive animation of 'an artificialdecoy --is a-s'imulation of the diving, 'fee ding :rnotion. -to decoy aflight --o'f' fowl than wing flapping, :SWimmi-ng -'or other s'imilardiverse "forms of 'motion.

it 'is, therefore, the object of --this invention to :pro- 'vide anartificial decoy which -will simulate the diving, feeding motiozn of 1 a'live migratory -foWl. larly, it "is'an objeet hereof'to provide a' gasoperated -divin-g decoy.

It -is a further object: of this-invention to *provide'such a =d-ecoywherein the periodicity of-diving repetition may'be=reaiiil-y variedandwherei-n there is provided a "positive ---and--'-simple mechanism foraccomplishing the diving action.

1A further-:object of this i invention is .the provis'ion of a rugged,inexpensive structure foracarrying out the' fore- L going objects.

Further objects an'dmdvan'tagesof the-invention will be readily apparentfrom an eXarnina't-iOn of the follew-ing "detailed specificationtakerr'in conjunction with the "accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. -1 'is a view inperspective of=the deco-y;

Fig. "2 is :a sectional .elevat-ional :view "of the deco-y in its upperor-floatingpositionta'kemondine 2 2 of Figs/:4;

Fig; 3 is a--similar-sectional elevational view of- -t'he I decoy in"its lower: or: diving position;

Figfll is at'front view of' the valveand 'Walveoperating; 'mehan'ism ofthe "decoy' taken *on the line 4 4" of Figure 3 an'd Fig. 5 is a-disassembled pe-rspeetive =view'of the valve -=a-nfdwalve Lopera'tingmechanism of the -decoy.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly a-to1 Figure l, thedecoy in its entirety is designatediby the numeral 10 and-includes ahead -1-1--. and ma -12. The she'll of the decoy is preferablyformed-fromtwo comp'lementary halves -l=3jand 14- joined toproduce aunitary simulation of 1a wildfowl.

Obviously, the exterior surface. of the decoy "10 may be varied as tosurface configuration, color and markings ,so as to best reproduce 'theappearance of the natural migratory fowl inten'ded to'barlecoyed;

Preferably the,material of Whi'ch'the. shelliis formed consists :of .amol'dable, artificial plastic, ,since such materials are'ineigpensive,easily molded and usually possess strength and light weight, as well asbeing'fluid proof;

The complementary'halves of the shellare cemented, 'fusion joined orthelike'to produce -a 'gasa-nd liquid- ,tight unitary structure havingformed therein certain orifices and an operating mechanism, asdeser'ibe'd in detail hereafter.

The interior of thedeeoy is'divided by' partitionsli-nto compartments.Referiingparticularly toFiguresi2 :and 3; it will be seen that a fluidproof transverse partition 15 More particuw 70 ADaandtheanng-t3 Suchsimulated motion "acts more-positively, v

"divides a eornpartment 1'6 formedin the neck and head of the decoyfromithe maininterior of the decoy.

Themziininterioris divided'by a similar 'fluid proof transverse Vpartition 17 into front and rear. compartments '18 and19; jItjisdesirablethat'the partition '17'be'm'olded in ,twofhalves, one with eachhalf 13 and 14', and/that the two halves of theipartition becementedor'otherwise .joinedtogether. Preferably ;'the partition '17;'is formed of a rigid plastic material such as Lucite or-the'like, Theutilization of such material also insures the reinforcement of theexterior shell without materially adding to the overall weightiof 'the"decoy. Itis, of course possi-ble to form 'the partition' in ,one pieceand cement or :other- Wisejoin this piece to'the'two shell halves.

Rear compartment is the gas producing chamber. Any of the well "knowngas producingagents maybe utilized therein. In the preferredembodiment-illustrated and described herewith, compartment 19 is filledwith 'sdlid car'bon diox'i'de which is commonly referred to as Dr Ice;"This'is'accomplished'by insertion of the Dry *Iee throughgan"opening'20in the bottom wall 21 ofthe 'rec'oy. openingds rendered" fluid tight bya standard :clqsure"-2 2 having threaded or other similar engagementwith-opening 20-*and;pre'ferably sealed by gasket'23 -or thelike:

It is obvious that-evaporative gas producing substances other thancarbon dioxide, rsuch,'for example, as aliphatic halides-may 'beerhployed. In similar manner various "liquid-contactgasproducingsubstances such as carbides "may be-nsed tofill eompartment19. If the latter class ofsubstances-are utilizedythen closure '22 i isprovided with 'a gr ill 'or sereen to allow'limited access offiuid-to-cham- *ber 19 5-11 E IIlfiHHflPWll 'kllOWll to'-the-art.

For'med inpartition--17 is an opening or passage '24, and -inser'ted influid-proof relation in said-opening is a hollow tube 25. As illustratedin Figures 2 and 3, tube 25' has a horizentally extending -portion 26'and a verticdll-y"downwardlwextending portion 27. Horizontal section *26extends --through partition 17 and has formed in t'herear eomp-artmentalportionthereof a 'series of -axi-ally and"" horizont-ally 'spacedopenings "28. At the downward -=an'd forward :end 29 thereof the =tube525:1 leads into-compartment 18.

Basically-this 1 compartment 1 8 includes an-upper opendug-orpassageQIformed in-the upper wall -32 ofthe deeoy and 'a-llowerppeningor-passage 33 formed i in1the bottom wvallfll. P'referably openingillsis positioned *at or near t-he forward portion of the body 1 2 in --thelower=-wall 2 1 and -=atthe-' lateral 1 center thereof;

Depending from the upper :wall 32 into compartment 128is :avalve-mechanism for the: opening-'31, indioated in its -entirety as 34'iand besti'illustrated in FigureJl. In the illustrated preferredembodiment the valve is formed inwthe main ofTeriite :#2 or other:similar light and :rigid plastic :material;

ilbownwardlyrextendingifromaopening file zand joinedrin ,ffiuid itightrelationship torupperrwallivzsthereisvpositioned a -hollow tube 935:Also'nsuspended 'sfromiupper zwall 332 is a'tsupportin g postt6iterminating :atzitsdower enddn a cylindrical bearingisfl.llfidesired, .=postt 36tand tube 35 imay beiformedsdf asiirglevintegralrplasticreastingwrimolding inorder:tozffacilitatetcertaintyxof .opcration'zandiin .iexpens'i venessof :the' decoy.

Passing-through bear'i-ngGflrandasupporteditherebytis a pin 38,tormed-prefer ablyiof a:metaltsubstantiallyanom- -corrosive insaltwater. A 'platform'iw,preferably:formedl o'f-- light plastic mat'erial;and having east, machined tor otherawise 'formedtherein ".bea-ring ears1140,- 440; :one. rout seither'l'sideithereofdis:positionedringsuspendod' pivotal Ed ition'ftomostfifiabycn oti ma n ethmugha earing At the forward portion ofplatform 39 there is formed a block 41 having a threaded or similarlyexecuted passage 42, and positioned in adjustable mating relationthereto is a screw 43 or the like. It will be apparent that passage 42is preferably extended upwardly and rearwardly of the horizontal line ofbottom wall 21.

Freely rotatably supported by pin 38 is an inversely positioned pendantweight 44 formed of a material having a specific gravity substantiallygreater than that of water, such, for example, as a non-saltwater-corrosive metal. This pendant weight 44 may be supported adjacentto either vertical side of platform 39, or, if desired, two such weightsmay be carried thereby, one on either side thereof.

In either alternative construction a stop member or stop members 45 areformed, preferably integrally, on platform 39 rearward of pin 38 andpositioned in the axial orbital path of Weight or weights 44 to limitthe rearward motion thereof. In like manner screw or screws 43adjustably limit the forward pivotal movement of weight or weights 44.

At the upper rear surface of platform 39 there is positioned a valveseat 46. This seat is adapted to coact with the lower end 47 of tube 35to effectively seal said lower end when the rear end of pivotallysupported platform 39 is in its raised position. In the preferredillustrated embodiment valve seat 46 takes the form of a resilientcircular dish gasket, biased upwardly and having a horizontally matingconfiguration relative to the lower end 47 of tube 35. It is obviousthat any similar valve seat known in the art may be utilized.

Formed in the neck and head compartment 16 of the decoy are a pluralityof openings 48. These openings, the lowermost of which is substantiallyas low as the partition when the decoy 10 is in a horizontal position,serve the function of readily admitting and emitting fluid into the headportion in order that the descension and ascension of the decoy may beexpedited without substantial interference with the main operatingmechanisrn.

Also fastened to lower wall 21 and preferably positioned in the forwardcompartment 18 is a balancing weight 49. The purpose of this weight isto adjust the center of gravity of the decoy so that it will normally bepositioned in a horizontal plane. Accordingly, the weight, formed of amaterial having a high specific gravity relative to water, is asubstantially fiat circular disc having a vertical eccentricallypositioned passage 50 therethrough, said weight being adjoined to saidlower wall 21 by means of a pinion 51. The relative position of thebalance weight may be adjusted either by internal manual rotation on afriction fit pinion or by external manual manipulation by means of ascrew-pinion screw threaded into the bottom wall 21 from the exteriorthereof.

Such an adjustment is necessitated for two obvious reasons. First, inthe mass production of decoys identical or similar to those describedand illustrated, it is readily apparent that no two products will havean identical center of gravity, resulting in uneven front to rear orside to side buoyant stability. Second, in the filling of the rear orgas producing chamber 19 it is readily apparent that no two utilizationsof the identical operative decoy will produce an identical center oroperation.

To aid in the stability of the buoyant decoy there is provided, as iscustomary, a weighted keel 52 attached to the lower center portion ofbottom wall 21.

In operation, and assuming that rear compartment 19 has been filed witha gas producing substance, decoy 10 is placed on a surface of water 53;see Figure 3.

The combined weight of the portion of platform 39 and its adjunctspivotally suspended rearwardly of pin 38 is greater than those portionspivotally suspended forwardly of pin 38 when the decoy is in asubstantially horizontal position. Accordingly, weight 44 rotatesrearwardly until it is in contact with stop member 45. This actionpositively i by adjustment of screw insures the unseating of valve seat46 from the lower end 47 of tube 35. Water freely enters frontcompartment 18 through opening 33 as air simultaneously escapes upwardlythrough tube 35 and opening 31 formed in upper wall 32.

Simultaneously water will fill compartment 16, entering through thelower openings 48 while air exits through the upper openings 48,expediting the filling of the forward portion of the decoy with water.

The forward portion, now filled with water, sinks and thus simulates anatural fowl diving for food. Obviously the rearward portion of thedecoy is simultaneously elevated to enhance the illusion of naturalaction.

As the front portion of the decoy submerges, pivoting downwardly aroundan axis substantially rearwardly of pin 38 due to the latent buoyancy ofrear compartment 19, the entire front portion of platform 39, includingscrew 43 and block 41, pivots forwardly carrying stop member 45 andweight 44 forwardly and downwardly. The forward and downward movement ofweight 44 is positively terminated by contact with adjustable screw 43.

When the front portion of platform 39 pivots forwardly and downwardly,the rear portion thereof is elevated, carrying valve seat 46 intooperative sealing relationship with lower end 47 of tube 35. Thereaftergas cannot escape through tube 35 and consequently the gas subsequentlyproduced in rear compartment 19 and educting via tube 25 intocompartment 18 collects therein, forcing water from compartment 18through passage 33. This gas increases the buoyancy of the forwardportion of the decoy, gradually elevating the same until weight 44 againrotates rearwardly, striking stop member 45 which carries the rearportion of platform 39 and valve seat 46 rearwardly downwardly, thusopening compartment 18 to atmosphere via tube 35 and allowing the decoyto dive again.

As previously discussed, provision is made for adjustment of therapidity of opening and closing of the gas escape valve in order toallow for variance of the periodicity of diving of the decoy. Thusadjustment consists essentially of the screw 43 which functions to limitthe forward and downward orbital movement of weight 44 about pin 38.

It is readily apparent that, if screw 43 is screwed upwardly from amedial position, then weight 44 will be stopped from reaching as fardownwardly and forwardly during the descent of the front portion of thedecoy. Consequently, during elevation or gas actuated ascent it willfall rearwardly at a point spatially elevationally prior to similaractuation when screw 43 is in medial position. The result, therefore, isa shifting of platform 39 to open compartment 18 to atmosphere via tube35 before the decoy has reached a completely horizontal position, thusaccelerating the periodicity of repetitive diving.

A corresponding deceleration of diving is accomplished 43 downwardlyfrom its medial position. In this regard it will be apparent thatmanipulation of adjusting eccentric weight 49 also can serve to adjustperiodicity of diving, since any adjustment thereof shifts the pivotaldiving center of the decoy. It is further pointed out that adjustment ofboth screw 43 and weight 49 can be readily accomplished, in thepreferred embodiment, through opening 33.

Experience has demonstrated the desirability of open ings 28 in tube 25.The thusly formed tube is not con ducive to clogging or stoppage by iceformation whicl can sometimes become prevalent, particularly where thdecoy is utilized in freezing or near freezing climatic con ditions.

Obviously, the simulated motion of the decoy of th present invention mayhave incorporated therewith othe known motion producing mechanisms orother know decoying mechanisms, such as duck calls, etc.

5 We claim: V, l. A decoy, comprising, in combination: a hollow body, atransverse partitionpositionedwithin said body and dividing said bodyintofrontand'rear'compartments,

a passage in said partition communicating with each of passagecommunicating with each .of :said chambers,-an

upper wall in said second chamber, a second fluid-passage in said upperWall, a platform pivotally mounted in said second chamber, a valve seatcarried by said platform and operatively positioned relative to saidsecond fluid passage, a weight pivotally mounted adjacent to saidplatform for pivoting said platform, stop members on said platformpositioned in the orbital path of said weight to limit the movementthereof, a lower wall in said second chamber, and a third fluid passagein said lower wall.

3. A diving duck decoy comprising, in combination: a gas producingchamber, a second chamber, a first fluid passage communicating with eachof said chambers, an upper wall in said second chamber, a second fluidpassage in said upper wall, a platform pivotally mounted in said secondchamber, a valve seat carried by said platform and operativelypositioned relative to said second fluid passage, a weight pivotallymounted adjacent to said platform for pivoting said platform, stopmembers on said platform positioned in the orbital path of said weightto limit the movement thereof, at least one of said stop members beingadjustably positioned relative to said orbital path, a lower wall insaid second chamber, and a third fluid passage in said lower wall.

4. A diving duck decoy comprising, in combination: a gas producingchamber, a second chamber, a fluid proof partition positioned betweensaid chambers, a hollow tube positioned in said partition andcommunicating with each of said chambers, an upper wall in said secondchamber, a second fluid passage in said upper wall, a platform pivotallymounted in said second chamber, a valve seat carried by said platformand operatively positioned relative to said second fluid passage, aweight pivotally mounted adjacent to said platform for pivoting saidplatform, a lower wall in said second chamber, and a third fluid passagein said lower wall.

5. A diving duck decoy comprising, in combination: a gas producingchamber, a second chamber, a fluid proof partition positioned betweensaid chambers, a hollow tube positioned in said partition andcommunicating with each of said chambers, said tube having an axiallyand radially extending series of holes in the portion thereof whichextends into said gas producing chamber, an upper wall in said secondchamber, a second fluid passage in said upper wall, a platform pivotallymounted in said second chamber, a valve seat carried by said platformand operatively positioned relative to said second fluid passage, aWeight pivotally mounted adjacent to said platform, for pivoting saidplatform, a lower wall in said second chamber, and a third fluid passagein said lower Wall.

6. A diving duck decoy comprising, in combination; a gas producingchamber, a second chamber, a fluid proof partition positioned betweensaid chambers, a hollow tube positioned in said partition andcommunicating with each of said chambers, an upper wall in said secondchamber, a second fluid passage in said upper wall, a platform pivotallymounted in said second chamber, a valve seat carried by said platformand operatively positioned relative to said second fluid passage, aweight pivotally mounted adjacent to said platform for pivoting saidplatform, stopmembers on said platform positioned in the and ,apivotally mountedofbital-path of saidweig'ht'to' limit themovement-thereof, a lower wall in said second chamber, and a third fluidpassage in saidilower wall;

*7. Adiving-duckidecoy'comprising, in combinationra gas producingchamber, a second chanrliver, a fluid proof partitionpositioned"between-said chamber-s, a hollow tube positioned in' said'partition and communicating with each "of *said chambers', said 'tubehaving an axially and 'Tadially extending series-"o'f holes -'in thezportion thereof which extends into saidgasprodue'ingchamber, an'upper'wall in said 'second'c'ham'ber,asecond fiuid passage in said upperwall, -a-platform-pivotally mounted in said second chamber, a--v-alve'seat carried 'by said platform and operativelypositionedrelative to saidsecond fluid 'pas- 'sage, -a-'weight pivotally "mounted adjacent-to saidplatform for pivoting said :pla'tform, stop -members on said*platforrmpositioned'inthe orbital path -'of said weight :to

limit the movement thereof, at least one of said stop members beingadjustably positioned relative to said orbital path, a lower wall insaid second chamber, and a third fluid passage in said lower wall.

8. A decoy comprising, in combination: a hollow body including a headand neck portion, a first fluid proof transverse partition positionedwithin said body and dividing said body into front and rearcompartments, a second fluid proof transverse partition separating theneck and head portion from the remainder of said hollow body, a passagein said first partition communicating with each of said compartments, afirst fluid passage in the upper wall of said front compartment, asecond fluid passage in the lower wall of said front compartment, valvemeans positioned in said front compartment in operative relation withsaid first fluid passage, and means to operate said valve to close oropen said first fluid passage.

9. A diving duck decoy comprising, in combination: a gas producingchamber, a second chamber, a first fluid passage communicating with eachof said chambers, an upper Wall in said second chamber, a second fluidpassage in said upper wall, a platform pivotally mounted in said secondchamber, a valve seat carried by said platform and operativelypositioned relative to said second fluid passage, a weight pivotallymounted adjacent to said platform for pivoting said platform, a lowerwall in said second chamber, a second weight supported on said lowerwall and adjustably positioned thereon, and a third fluid passage insaid lower wall.

10. A diving duck decoy comprising, in combination: a gas producingchamber, a second chamber, a first fluid passage communicating with eachof said chambers, an upper wall in said second chamber, a second fluidpassage in said upper wall, a platform pivotally mounted in said secondchamber, a valve seat carried by said platform and operativelypositioned relative to said second fluid passage, a weight pivotallymounted adjacent to said platform for pivoting said platform, a lowerwall in said second chamber, a pinion mounted in said lower wall, asecond weight eccentrically and adjustably supported by said pinion, anda third fluid passage in said lower wall.

11. A diving duck decoy comprising, in combination; a body, a chamberformed in said body and having upper and lower walls, a separate fluidpassage positioned in each of said walls, a valve operatively positionedrelative to said upper fluid passage, a source of gas positioned in saidchamber, and pivotally mounted valve operating means positioned in saidchamber.

12. A diving duck decoy comprising, in combination: a body, a chamberformed in said body and having upper and lower walls, a separate fluidpassage positioned in each of said walls, a valve operatively positionedrelative to said upper fluid passage, a source of gas positioned in saidchamber, and pivotally mounted valve operating means positioned in saidchamber, said valve operating means having a weight pivotally supportedadjacent to said valve.

13. A diving duck decoy comprising, in combination: a body, a chamberformed in said body and having upper and lower walls, a separate fluidpassage positioned in each of said walls, a valve operatively positionedrelative to said upper fluid passage, a source of gas positioned in saidchamber, pivotally mounted valve operating means positioned in saidchamber, said valve operating means having a Weight pivotally supportedadjacent to said valve, and stop members carried by said valve operatingmeans and positioned in the orbital path of said weight. 10

14. A diving duck decoy comprising, in combination: a body, a chamberformed in said body and having upper and lower walls, a separate fluidpassage positioned in each of said walls, a valve operatively positionedrelative to said upper fluid passage, a source of gas positioned in saidchamber, pivotally mounted valve operating means positioned in saidchamber, said valve operating means 5% having a weight pivotallysupported adjacent to said valve, and stop members carried by said valveoperating means and positioned in the orbital path of said weight, atleast one of said stop members being adjustably positioned relative tosaid path.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS243,954 North July 5, 1881 1,220,551 Powell Mar. 27, 1917 2,093,144Brunell Sept. 14, 1937 2,224,650 Holloway Dec. 10, 1940 2,243,568Middler May 27, 1941 2,415,742 Hiltabidel Feb. 11, 1947 2,591,554 KinneyApr. 1, 1952 2,716,830 Burden Sept. 6, 1955

